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![Show Contents]() Tonkins History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The ancient Anglo-Saxon surname Tonkins came from the Aramaic personal name Thomas, which means twin. This became one of the most popular Christian names in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Tonkins developed from the pet form Tom, to which the diminutive suffix -kin was appended. The surname also features the suffix -son, which superseded other patronymic suffixes in popularity during the 14th century and was most popular in the north of England. Early Origins of the Tonkins familyThe surname Tonkins was first found in Cheshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Reasheath from early times. Here, most of the family were found at Willington. "It is situated on the south-west side of Delamere Forest, and comprises 977a. 3r. 17p., of which, deducting 30 acres of wood, two-thirds are pasture and one-third arable land, mostly the property of Colonel Tomkinson. The mansion of Colonel Tomkinson, standing on the borders of the forest, is a modern and elegant building in the Elizabethan style." 1 Early History of the Tonkins familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tonkins research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1631, 1640 and 1710 are included under the topic Early Tonkins History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Tonkins Spelling VariationsSound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Tonkins family name include Tomkinson, Tompkinson, Thomkinson, Thompkinson and others. Early Notables of the Tonkins familyNotables of this surname at this time include: Thomas Tomkinson (1631-1710), an English Muggletonian writer from Dovedale, Staffordshire. "He came of a substantial family of tenant-farmers long settled in the parishes of Ilam and Blore Ray. He had...
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Tonkins Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Tonkins migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Tonkins Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Matthew Tonkins, aged 20, a miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Epaminondas" 2
- Miss Maria Tonkins, (b. 1841), aged 18, Cornish nursemaid departing from Plymouth on 23rd February 1859 aboard the ship "Herald" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 1st June 1859 3
| Tonkins migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Tonkins Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- John Tonkins, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
- Thomas Tonkins, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
- William Tonkins, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
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Tonkins migration to Australia 
Tonkins migration to New Zealand 
